Display device



Feb. 10', 1931. w. a. PARMELE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1927 Im enbor WALTER B. PARMELE A titiorn eys Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES WALTER B. PARMELE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed December 31, 1927. Serial No. 244,031.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric display devices, and an object of the invention is to rovide a device configurated to simulate a hristmas tree and having means for supporting it in an upright osition, and a plurality of electric light bul s being mounted in the member and laterally projecting therefrom and having means for projecting a plurality of natural light rays onto the surface of the member to produce ornamental effects and designs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric display device comprising a. back ground, preferably colored green and having sockets therein adapted to receive electric light bulbs, each of which has the major portion of its surface coated or treated with a suitable material designed to substantially obstruct or interrupt the light rays, and relatively smaller portions of the surface of each light bulb adjacent to the socket end thereof, being uncoated. to permit natural light rays to be projected therethrough onto the back ground in the form of a series of radial rays, the rays projected from each light bulbintersecting and mingling with those of the other light bulbs to provide a very attractive display.

A further object is to provide an upright supporting member configurated; to simulate a Christmas tree and having a plurality of rosettes of artistic designs and colors mounted therein and each provided with a socket adapted to receive an electric light bulb and the light bulbs having the major portions of their surfaces frosted or covered with a suitable translucent coating adapted to interrupt or difl'use the light rays, and relatively small portions of said coating being removed from the surface of each light bulb adjacent to the socket end thereof, whereby natural uncolored light rays will be projected from the li ht source through such uncoated portions 0 the bulbs and onto the colored rosettes and the background, thereby producing various combinations of artistic designs and effects upon the background.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a light bulb having the major portion of its surface coated or treated with a suitable material adapted to substantially interrupt the passage of light rays thcrethrough, and portions of the light bulbs surface, adjacent to the socket end thereof, being uncoated, and the uncoated surfaces being of different designs or patterns so that when the light rays are projected therethrough onto a suitable background, various illuminated designs and atterns will be projected thereon, thus pro ucing a very attractive display.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accom panying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. p

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claim which follows.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification;

Figure 1 is an clevational view of a display device showing the improved light bulbs mounted thereon and diagrammatically illustrating an effect obtainable by projecting a plurality of natural light rays upon a suitable background;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view showing the socket end of a light bulb and illustrating portions of the coating removed; from the surface of the light bulb to permit natural light rays to be projected from the light source onto a suitable background; and

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of bulb mounting wherein ornamental rosettes or shields are employed between the light bulb and the background.

The novel display device featured in this invention comprises an upright supporting member or background 2, preferably configurated to simulate a Christmas tree as shown. The background 2 may be constructed of plate-like material, such as composition board and is mounted in a base member 3, adapted to support it in an upright position.

A plurality of apertures 4 are provided in the back ground or member 2 in which flexible. sleeves or bushings 5 are mounted as shown in Figure 2. These bushings are preferably of rubber and have a head 6 which is seated against the member 2 as shown.

Sockets 7, of ordinary construction, havin conductors 8 and 9 electrically connecte therewith, are frictionallymounted in the bushings. Each of these sockets is adapted to recelve an electric light bulb 10.

An important feature of this invention resides in the novel construction or treatment of the light bulbs 10, which is such as to cause a plurality of light rays to be projected from each bulb onto the background 2. The surface of each light bulb is covered or treated with a suitable translucent material as indicated by the numeral 11 in Figure 2. The coating on the various bulbs may be of different colors, if desired, such as, f or example, the coloring used in the construction of light bulbs adapted for use in connection with Christmas trees. Portions of this coating are removed from the light bulb at the socket end thereof, as indicated at 12 in Figures 2 and 3. Through these uncoated portions which are preferably in the form of narrow slits, light rays may be projected from the light source of each bulb onto the background 2 which, preferably is colored green. The uncoated portions of the bulbs surfaces may be made in various designs and figures so as to produce difi'erent designs and efiects upon the background. To further enhance the attractiveness of the display device, rosettes or shields 15, of various colors may be mounted back of the light bulbs, as indicated in Figure 4. The natural light rays projected through the transparent portions of the light bulbs, onto these colored rosettes or directly onto the background 2, produces a very attractive display. When the transparent portions of the bulbs surfaces are inthe form of narrow slits. radially disposed as shown in Figure 3, the natural light rays projected therethrough will tend to cross the light rays pros jected from adjacent bulbs, and will mingle therewith so as .to produce upon the background various colored designs and effects.

When vari-colored bulbs are used in connection with this device, unusually brilliant combinations of shades and shadows are produced upon the background. The long needle-like rays of natural light projected through the transparent slits in the bulbs surfaces onto the colored background produce a very attractive effect, the long narrow rays radiating from the light source in all directions, and the light rays from one bulb intersecting those of other bulbs. Each needle-like ray is also clearly defined upon the background. This novel display device therefore provides a very attractive decorabushing adapted to be fitted into each aperture, an annular shoulder at one end of each bushing adapted to on age one face of the member, said bushings eing'frictionall retained in said apertures, and each bus 'ng having a cylindrical bore adapted to receive and support a device such as an electric light bulb.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, 1927.

' WALTER B. PARMELE. 

